Sliding door corner and roller assembly



I Noy. 8,1966 I r E. J. ANDRES 3,

SLIDING DOOR CORNER AND ROLLER ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 11, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

EDWARD J. ANDRES 5y ///5 ATTOEA/EYS wee/5, mac/1, P055521. 6: KERN Nov. 8, 1966 E. J. ANDRES 3,283,444

SLIDING DOOR CORNER AND ROLLER ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 11, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /Z@ K724 M 4 FIG. 6.

INVENTOR. EDWARD J. ANDRES 5y HIS ATTORNEYS HARE/5, K/ECH, Rusas'LL 6: HER/v United States Patent 3,283,444 SLIDING DOOR CORNER AND ROLLER ASSEMBLY Edward J. Andres, Goshen, Ind., assignor to Alurmmte Manufacturing Co., Guadalupe, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Dec. 11, 1964, Ser. No. 417,725 4 Claims. (Cl. 49-420) The present invention relates in general to an installation comprising a sliding panel structure movable in its own plane relative to a stationary structure, the panel structure being supported by rollers or wheels engageable with and rollable along a track extending in the direction of movement of the panel structure.

The invention is applicable to such installations as sliding glass doors, sliding screen-doors, sliding windows, sliding window screens, sliding closet doors, and the like, the term sliding door being used generically herein to include sliding panel structures of this general type. For convenience of disclosure, the invention will be considered herein in connection with a sliding screen door, without, however, limiting the invention specifically thereto.

Considering the invention more specifically, it contemplates a sliding door equipped with rollers or wheels which are engageable with and rollable along a track extending in the direction of movement of the door, which are capable of moving vertically relative to the door independently of each other, and which are continuously biased relative to the door into engagement with the track. With this construction, the possibility of accidental disengagement of one or more of the rollers from the track is minimized, even though, in the course of opening or closing the door, forces are inadvertently applied to the door tending to cock it relative to the track in a vertical plane, and thus tending to disengage the rollers from the track. Also, in the event that the door is equipped with two or more rollers, the ability of each roller to move vertically in independent fashion insures that it will remain in engagement with the track despite irregularities in the track. Preferably, the independently movable rollers are readily engaged with and disengaged from the track in the course of installing and removing the door.

It is old to mount each roller in a roller carrier which is connected to the door by spring means, typically a cantilevered leaf spring, for biasing the roller into engagement with the track. It is also old to mount on the door an adjustable stop means, such as a screw, which is engageable with the roller carrier to define the innermost or retracted position of the roller. This construction has various disadvantages, one being that if the cantilevered leaf spring is broken, bent, or otherwise damaged, the roller associated therewith is completely useless. Another disadvantage of this prior arrangement is that the stop screw must engage the roller carrier above the axis of rotation of the roller. Consequently, the stop screw limits the roller size which can be used in a particular installation since it occupies the space that would otherwise be available for the roller. This is a disadvantage because, in sliding doors, larger rollers operate better than and last much longer than smaller ones. Another disadvantageous consequence of locating the stop screw opposite the roller axis is that, in adjusting the innermost position of the roller, it must be rotated sufiiciently to displace it the full amount of the desired adjustment. This requires a relatively large stop screw displacement.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a sliding door roller assembly which obviates the foregoing and various other disadvantages of prior constructions.

More particularly, an important object of the invention 3,283,444 Patented Nov. 8, 1966 is to pivotally connect the roller carrier to the door by a pivot means the axis of which is parallel to and spaced from the roller axis, and to utilize a separate spring means for biasing the roller carrier in a direction to maintain the roller in engagement with the track. Assuming that the roller assembly of the invention is mounted on the lower edge of the door for engagement with a lower track beneath the door, the roller assembly will be operative, and the roller will be biased into engagement with the track by the action of gravity, even if the spring means is broken, or otherwise rendered inoperative. Consequently, directly pivoting the roller carrier to the door and utilizing a separate spring means to bias the roller into engagement with the track represent important features of the invention.

Another object is to provide a roller assembly of the foregoing nature wherein the spring means comprises a cantilevered leaf spring mounted on the roller carrier and engaging the door.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable stop means, for defining the innermost, retracted position of the roller carrier, comprising a stop screw threadedly engaged with the door and engaging the roller carrier at a point spaced from the roller and adjacent the pivot axis of the roller carrier. With this construction, the stop screw does not limit the roller size, which is an important feature. Another feature is that a given axial displacement of the stop screw results in a greater displacement of the roller than for the case where the stop screw is opposite the axis of the roller. Consequently, the stop screw may be relatively short, and thus relatively inconspicuous, or may be in an inconspicuous location remote from the roller.

Another object of the invention is to locate the adjustable stop screw on one side of the roller, i.e., on the same side of the roller as the pivot axis of the roller carrier, and to locate the spring means for biasing the roller into engagement with the track entirely on the opposite side of the roller. This avoids any necessity for so shapmg the spring means as to accommodate the adjustable stop screw, which is an important feature since it permits selecting a configuration for the spring means which is not dictated in any way by the stop screw.

Another and important object of the invention is to provide a sliding-door corner construction wherein a tubular stile and a tubular rail are held in assembled relatron by a generally L-shaped corner connector having arms respectively pressed into the stile and the rail, and wherein the roller carrier of the invention is located within the rail and is pivotally mounted on the corresponding arm of the corner connector. This provides a rigid structure which supports the roller assembly, including the roller carrier, the roller and the biasing spring means, in a positive manner which is an important feature.

Still another object of importance is to provide a pivot means interconnecting the corner bracket and the roller carrier which permits assembling these elements merely by snapping the roller carrier into place on the corner bracket. A more specific object in this connection is to provide a pivot means which includes aligned pivot pins having beveled ends acting as cam means which cause the roller carrier to snap into place upon movement of the roller carrier into engagement with the corner bracket.

The foregoing objects, advantages, features and results of the present invention, together with various other objects, advantages, features and results thereof which will be evident to those sldlled in the sliding door art in the light of this disclosure, may be achieved with the exemplary embodiments of the invention described in detail hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view illustrating a sliding door installation which includes a sliding screen door embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the lower right corner of the sliding screen door shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 being a sectional view in a plane parallel to the plane of the door;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are enlarged, fragmentary sectional views respectively taken along the arrowed lines 33 and 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary isometric view of a corner connector or bracket of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating the presently preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the arrowed line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary isometric view of a corner connector or bracket of the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7; and

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of a roller carrier of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 1 to 5 Referring initially to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the numeral 10 designates an exterior wall having an opening 12 therein which extends upwardly from floor level to a point approaching ceiling level. Part of the opening 12 is occupied by a stationary panel structure 14 which includes a glass pane or panel 16. The remainder of the opening 12 is adapted to be closed by a sliding glass door 18 comprising a frame 20 containing a glass pane or panel 22.

The installation shown also includes a sliding screen door 24 which includes a frame 26 containing a panel 28 formed of woven wire screening, or the like. The sliding screen door 24 is, of course, movable between an open position and a closed position wherein it closes the portion of the opening 12 which is adapted to be closed by the sliding glass door 18.

The present invention may be embodied in either the sliding glass door 18 or the sliding screen door 24, or both. For convenience of disclosure, the invention is considered hereinafter as embodied in the sliding screen door 24.

The sliding screen door 24 is shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings as being equipped with two lower rollers or wheels 30 and 32 engageable with a lower track 34. It is also shown as provided with two upper rollers 36 and 38 engageable with an upper track 40. These tracks may simply. be ribs receivable in circumferential grooves in the rollers. The various rollers mentioned are all identically mounted on the sliding screen door 24 so that only the structure associated with the roller 30 will be considered hereinafter.

Referring particularly to FIG. 2 of the drawings, illustrated therein is a sliding-door corner and roller assembly or constuction of the invention which is designated geneally by the numeral 42 and which includes the aforementioned roller 30. The assembly 42 includes adjacent mitered ends of a tubular stile 44 and a tubular rail 46 forming parts of the screen door frame 24. The stile 44 and the rail 46 have identical cross sections to permit using the same stock for both. The respective inner edges of the stile 44 and the rail 46 are formed to provide screen retaining grooves 48 and 50 in which the corresponding edges of the screen 28 are suitably secured, as is well known in the art. The respective outer edges of the stile 44 and the rail 46 are formed to provide channels 52 and 54 extending longitudinally thereof, the channel 54 in the rail 46 being adapted to receive the lower track 34 therein. The lower edge of the rail 46 is provided therein with an opening 56 through which the roller 30 projects into engagement with the lower track 34.

Intermediate their respective inner and outer edges, the stile 44 and the rail 46 are formed into rectangular tubes 58 and 60, respectively, oriented parallel to the plane of the sliding screen door 24. The stile 44 and the rail 46 are interconnected in assembled relation by a generally L-shaped corner connector or angle bracket 62 having arms 64 and 66 respectively complementary to and pressed into the rectangular tubes 58 and 60. As will be apparent, this provides a very simple means of assembling the stile 44 and the rail 46 and secures these elements together in a positive manner. For convenience of assembly, the angle bracket 62 is symmetrical, i.e., the arms 64 and 66 thereof are identical. Consequently, either arm thereof maybe inserted into the stile 44 or the rail 46.

The corner and roller assembly 42 of the invention in-. cludes a roller carrier 70, preferably of sheet metal, disposed within the rectangular tube 60 forming part of the rail 46. The roller carrier 70 is pivotally connected to the arm 66 of the corner bracket or connector 62,.and has the roller 30 rotatably mounted thereon in a position to extend through the opening 56 into engagement with the lower track 34.. The roller carrier 70 may perhaps best be described as being generally U-shaped, and

includes two arms 72 integrally interconnected at one end of the roller carrier 'by a flat cross piece 74. In effect, the opposite end of the roller carrier 70 is thus bifuracted, such bifurcated end being pivotally connected to the arm 66 of the corner bracket 62 in a manner which will now be described.

The arm 66 of the corner bracket 62 is providedwith a central vertical web 76 having integral, aligned pivot pins 78 projecting laterally from opposite sides thereof to provide a pivot axis perpendicular to the plane of the sliding door 24. The pivot pins 78 have their free ends beveled in such a manner that the end faces of the pivot pins converge in a direction away from thecorner formed by the stile 44 and the rail 46, and downwardly generally toward the roller opening 56. Preferably, the direction of convergence of the end faces of the pivot pins 78 makes an angle of approximately 45 with the vertical or hora izontal.

The arms 72 forming the bifurcated end of the roller carrier 70 have holes forming receptacles 80 for the respective pivot pins 78. The free ends of the arm-s 72 of the roller carrier 70 are normally biased toward each other by the inherent resilience of the material of the roller carrier, thereby maintaining the free ends of the arms 72 in engagement with the pivot pins 78.

The hereinbefore-described beveled end faces of the.

pivot pins 78 serve as a cam means which permits assembly of the roller carrier 70 with the corner bracket 62 merely by snapping the free ends of the arms 72 over the pivot pins 78. In other words, as the roller carrier 70 is moved toward and into engagement with the arm 66 of the corner bracket 62,. the free ends of the arms 72 are cammed apart by the end faces of the pivot pins 78 until the ICCCP'.

tacles 80 are in register with the pivot pins. Thereupon, the inherent resilience of the material of the roller carrier 70 causes the arms 72 to snap inwardly with the pivot pins 78 in the receptacles 80. To insureretention of the roller carrier 70 on the pivot pins 78, the free ends of the arms 72 are arcuate and are received in and engage concave, arcuate seats 82 formed in the arm 66 of the corner bracket 62. Thus,-the portions of the arms 72 between the receptacles 80 and the arcuate ends of these arms are held between the pins 78 and the concave seats 82, as will be clear from FIG. 3 in particular.

The foregoing manner of attaching the roller carrier 70 to the corner bracket 62 provides a quick and easy attachment procedure and functions in a secure and positive manner, which are important features.

The arms 72 of the roller carrier 70 are provided adjacent the integral cross piece 74 with downwardly extending tabs 84 receiving the hub of the roller 30 therebetween. The ends of such hub are journaled in complementary openings in the tabs 84. As previously mentioned, the roller 30 is located in register with and projects through the opening 56 into engagement with the lower track 34, being provided in its periphery with a. circumferential groove 86 receiving the roller track therein.

The invention provides spring means 88 for biasing the roller 30 downwardly into continuous engagement with the lower track 34, despite the application of forces to the sliding door 24 tending to lift such roller from its track. The spring means 88 includes a cantilevered leaf spring 90 secured at one end to the integral cross piece 74 of the roller carrier 70 and projecting along the interior of the rail 46 in a direction away from the corner bracket 62. Thus, the leaf spring 90 is located entirely on the opposite side of the roller 30 from the pivot means interconnecting the roller carrier 70 and the corner bracket 62, with the result that the leaf spring has no effect on the size selected for the roller. The fixed end of the leaf spring 90 is shown as being bent around the integral cross piece 74 of the roller carrier 70, while the free end thereof bears against the lower surface of the upper wall of the rectangular tube 60 forming part of the rail 46. When the roller carrier '70 is in the position shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing, which is its innermost, or retracted, position, the leaf spring 90 is stressed to continuously bias the roller 30 into engagement with its track 34.

It will be noted that even if the leaf spring 90 is broken, or otherwise damaged, the roller assembly will still operate properly, since the roller cannot move upwardly beyond its innermost, or retracted, position, as will be described. For example, if a force is applied to the sliding door 24 tending to lift the roller 30 from its track 34, the force of gravity will tend to maintain the roller 30 in engagement with its track even with the leaf spring 90 in an inoperative condition. Thus, breakage of or other damage to the leaf spring 90 does not render the invention inoperative in instances where the invention includes a roller movable downwardly into engagement with a track under the influence of gravity.

Threaded through the upper edge of the rail 46 is an adjustable stop means or screw 92 the lower end of which is engageable with a tab 94 formed integrally with and spanning the space between the two arms 72 of the roller carrier 70. The tab 94 is located between the roller 30 and the pivotal connection of the roller carrier 70 to the corner bracket 62. This is advantageous for at least two reasons. First, it insures that the presence of the stop screw 92 does not limit the size of the roller 30, which size can, if desired, be larger than that shown. Second, since the stop screw 92 is located between the axis of rotation of the roller 30 and the pivot axis of the roller carrier 70, vertical movement of the stop screw 92 produced by rotation thereof results in considerable larger vertical movement of the roller 30. In other words, one turn of the stop screw 92 provides a much greater adjustment of the innermost, or retracted, position of the roller carrier 70 than would a stop screw located directly above the axis of rotation of the roller 30. With this construction, the stop screw 92 can be shorter so that it does not project above the upper edge of the rail 46 as far, thereby providing a more pleasing appearance.

Considering briefly the over-all operation of the invention, the sliding door 24 may be installed by first backing off on the four stop screws associated with the four rollers 30, 32, 36 and 38 sufficiently to permit engagement of the rollers 30 and 32 with the lower track 34 and alignment of the rollers 36 and 38 with the upper track 40. Then, the four stop screws are rotated'in directions to move the rollers 30 and 32 downwardly relative to the frame 26 and to move the rollers 36 and 38 upwardly relative thereto, this being continued until the rollers are properly engaged with the tracks, but without excessive tightness. The sliding door 24 is then ready for use. In

the event that a force is applied to the sliding door 24 tending to disengage one or more of its rollers, the corresponding spring means tend to maintain such rollers in engagement with the corresponding track or tracks. As hereinbefore pointed out, even though the spring means associated with the lower rollers 30 and 32 are rendered inoperative for any reason, gravity will still tend to maintain such rollers in engagement with the lower track -34.

To remove the sliding door 24, it is merely necessary to back oif on the four stop screws sufiiciently to permit disengagement of either the upper rollers or the lower rollers from the corresponding track.

Although reference has been made to adjusting all four stop screws in installing or removing the sliding door 24, in many instances the door may be installed or removed by adjusting only the upper two stop screws, or the lower tWO.

FIGS. 6 to 9 Referring initially to FIG. 6 of the drawings, the numeral '124 designates a fragmentarily-shown sliding screen door which includes a frame 126 containing a panel 128 of woven wire screening, or the like. The door 124 is shown as equipped with a lower roller or wheel 130 engageable with a lower track 134. Preferably, the roller 130 is provided in its periphery with a circumferential groove to receive the lower track.

The roller 130 forms part of a sliding-door corner and roller assembly or construction of the invention which is designated generally by the numeral 142. The assembly 142 includes adjacent mitered ends of a tubular stile 144 and a tubular rail 146 forming parts of the frame 126. The stile 144 and the rail 146 have identical cross sections to permit using the same stock for both. (The stile 144 and the rail 146 are respectively similar to the stile 44 and the rail 46 and have the respective edges of the screen panel 128 secured thereto in the same way as the respective edges of the panel 28 are secured to the stile 44 and the rail 46.) The respective outer edges of the stile 144 and the rail 146 are formed to provide channels 152 and 154 extending longitudinally thereof, the channel 154 in the rail 146 being adapted to receive the lower track 134 therein.- The lower edge of the rail 146 is provided therein with an opening 156 through which the roller 130 projects into engagement with the lower track 134.

Intermediate their respective inner and outer edges, the stile 144 and the rail 146 are formed into rectangular tubes 158 and 160, respectively, oriented parallel to the plane of the sliding door 124. The stile 144 and the rail 146 are interconnected in assembled relation by a generally L-shaped corner connector or angle bracket 162 having arms 164 and 166 respectively complementary to and pressed into the rectangular tubes 158 and 160. For convenience, the corner connector 162 is symmetrical so that either arm thereof may be inserted into the stile 144 or the rail 146. It will be noted that the relationship between the corner connector 162, the stile 144 and the rail 146 is the same as the relationship between the corner connector 62, the stile 44 and the rail 46, the same advantages being present.

The corner and roller assembly 142 of the invention includes a roller carrier 170, preferably of sheet metal, disposed within the rectangular tube forming part of the rail 146. The roller carrier 170 is pivotally connected to the arm 166 of the corner bracket or connector 162, and has the roller 130 rotatably mounted thereon in a position to extend through the opening 156 into engagement with the lower track 134. The roller carrier 170, which is preferably of one-piece construction, includes two sides 172 adapted to receive the roller 130 therebetween. These sides 172 are integrally interconnected by flat cross pieces 174 and 175 spaced apart sufficiently to receive the roller therebetween. The two sides 172 of the roller carrier 170 are providedadjacent the cross piece 175 with depending arms 177 which embrace therebetween a central vertical web 176 of the arm 166 of the corner bracket 162. The web 176 has integral, aligned pivot pins 178, FIG. 8, projecting laterally from opposite sides thereof to provide a pivot axis perpendicular to the plane of the sliding door 124. The pivot pins 178 have their free ends beveled in such a manner that the end faces of the pivot pins converge in a direction away from the corner formed by the stile 144 and the rail 146, and downwardly'generally toward the roller opening 156. Preferably, the direction of convergence of the end faces of the pivot pins 178 makes an angle of approximately 45 with the vertical or horizontal.

The arms 177 of the roller carrier 170 have holes forming receptacles 180 for the respective pins 178. The free ends of the arms 177 of the roller carrier 170 are normally biased toward each other by the inherent resilience of the material of the roller carrier, thereby maintaining the free ends of the arms 177 in engagement with the pivot pins 178. The hereinbefore-described beveled end faces of the pivot pins 178 serve as cam means which permit assembly of the roller carrier 170 with the corner bracket 162 merely by snapping the free ends of the arms 177 over the pivot pins 178. In other words, as the roller carrier 170 is moved toward and into engagement with the arm 166 of the corner bracket 162, the free ends of the arms 177 are cammed apart by the end faces of the pivot pins 178 until the receptacles 180 are in register with the pivot pins. Thereupon, the inherent resilience of the material of the roller carrier 170 causes the arms 177 to snap inwardly with the pivot pins 178 in the receptacles 180. This manner of attaching the roller carrier 170 to the corner bracket 162 provides a quick and easy attachment procedure and functions in a secure and positive manner, which are important features. It will be note-d that the lower ends of the arms 177 are arcuate and that the receptacles 180 are offset from the centers thereof in a direction such that these arcuate ends are engageable with the lower wall of the tube 160 to limit downward pivoting of the roller 130 when the door 124 is lifted off the track 134.

The sides 172 of the roller carrier 170 are provided between the integral cross pieces 174 and 175 with depending tabs 184 receiving the hub of the roller 130 there between. The ends of an axle carried by such hub are journalled in complementary openings in the tabs 184. As previously mentioned, the roller 130 is located in register with and projects through the opening 156 into engagement with the lower track 134, being provided in its periphery with a circumferential groove 186 receiving the lower track therein.

The invention provides spring means 188 for biasing the roller 130 downwardly into continuous engagement with the lower track 134, despite the application of forces to the sliding door 124 tending to lift such roller from its track. The spring means 188 includes a cantilevered leaf spring 190 secured at one end to the integral cross piece 174 of the roller carrier 170 and projecting along the interior of the rail 146 in a direction away from the corner bracket 162. Thus, the leaf spring 190 is located entirely on the opposite side of the roller 130 from the pivot means interconnecting the roller carrier 170 and the corner bracket 162, with the result that the leaf spring has no effect on the size selected for the roller. The fixed end of the leaf spring 190 is shown as being bent around the integral cross piece 174 of the roller carrier 170, while the free end thereof bears against the lower surface of the upper wall of the rectangular tube 160 forming part of the rail 146. When the roller carrier 17 is in the position shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings, which is its innermost, or retracted, position, the leaf spring 190 is stressed to continuously bias the roller 130 into engagement with its track 134.

It will be noted that even if the leaf spring 190 is broken, or otherwise damaged, the roller assembly will still oper- 8: ate properly, since the roller cannot move upwardly beyond its innermost, or retracted, position, as will be described. For example, if a force is applied to the sliding door 124 tending to lift the roller 130 from its track 134, the force of gravity will tend to maintain the roller 130 in engagement with its track even with the leaf spring inner end of the screw 192 is engageable with a tab 198 formed integrally with one of the arms 177 of the roller carrier and spanning the space between these arms.

The tab 198 is locatedon the same side of the roller 130 as the pivot pins 178, and is located generally between the roller and such pivot pins. This is advantageous for at least two reasons. the stop screw 192 does not limit the size of the roller 130, which size can, if desired, be larger than that shown. Second, since the stop screw 192 is located generally between the axis of rotation of the roller 130 and the pivot axis of the roller carrier 170, and is located relatively close to the pivot axis of the roller carrier, horizontal movement of the stop screw 192 produced by rotation thereof results in amplified vertical movement of the roller 130. Thus, with this construction, the necessary adi justment of the roller 130 can be accomplished with a relative.y small axial displacement of the screw 192, which is an important feature.

The over-all operation of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 9 of the drawings is essentially the same as that of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5. Consequently, a further description is not required.

Although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in such embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. In a corner and roller assembly for a sliding door,

or the like, the combination of (a) a tubular stile and a tubular rail arranged in perpendicular relation to form a corner;

(b) a generally L-shaped corner connector having arms respectivly pressed into said stile and said rail to hold same in assembled relation;

(c) a roller carrier within said rail and having a resilient bifurcated end;

(d) pivot means mounting said bifurcated end of said roller carrier on said connector for pivotal movement of said roller carrier, between an inner, retracted position relative to said rail and an outer, extended position relative thereto, about a pivot axis perpendicular to the plane of said corner;

(e) said pivot means including aligned pivot pins on said connector, and the arms of said bifurcated end of said roller carrier having aligned receptacles respectively receiving said pivot pins;

(f) said pivot pins having beveled ends for springing said arms of said bifurcated end of said roller carrier into engagement with said pivot pins upon movement of said roller carrier toward said connector;

(g) a roller rotatably mounted on said roller carrier for rotation about an axis parallel to and spaced from said pivot axis; (h) said rail having an outer edge provided with an opening through which said roller projects outwardly;

(i) adjustable stop means for defining said retracted position of said roller carrier; and

First, it insures that the presence of (j) spring means for biasing said roller carrier toward said extended position.

2. In a corner and roller assembly for a sliding door, or

the like, the combination of:

(a) a tubular stile and a tubular rail arranged in perpendicular relation to form a corner;

(b) a corner bracket in said stile and said rail and holding same in assembled relation;

(c) a roller carrier in said rail and capable of being flexed;

(d) pivot means mounting said roller carrier on said bracket for pivotal movement of said roller carrier, between an inner, retracted position relative to said rail and an outer, extended position relative thereto, about a pivot axis perpendicular to the plane of said corner;

(e) said pivot means including aligned pivot pins and aligned pivot-pin receptacles respectively receiving said pivot pins;

(f) said pivot pins having beveled ends for flexing said roller carrier to permit engagement of said pivot pins with said pivot-pin receptacles upon interengaging relative movement of said roller carrier and said bracket;

(g) a roller rotatably mounted on said roller carrier for rotation about an axis parallel to and spaced from said pivot axis;

(h) said rail having an outer edge provided with an opening through which said roller projects outwardly;

(i) adjustable stop means for defining said retracted position of said roller carrier; and

(j) spring means for biasing said roller carrier toward said extended position.

3. A corner and roller assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said adjustable stop means comprises a vertical screw carried by said rail and engageable with said roller carrier.

4. A corner and roller assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said adjustable stop means comprises a horizontal screw carried by said bracket and engageable with said roller carrier.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,090,084 5/1963 Banner 20-19 3,175,255 3/1965 Saunders 20 19 HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

KENNETH DOWNEY, Examiner. 

1. IN A CORNER AND ROLLER ASSEMBLY FOR A SLIDING DOOR, OR THE LIKE, THE COMBINATION OF: (A) A TUBULAR STILE AND A TUBULAR RAIL ARRANGED IN PERPENDICULAR RELATION TO FORM A CORNER; (B) A GENERALLY L-SHAPED CORNER CONNECTOR HAVING ARMS RESPECTIVELY PRESSED INTO SAID STILE AND SAID RAIL TO HOLD SAME IN ASSEMBLED RELATION; (C) A ROLLER CARRIER WITHIN SAID RAIL AND HAVING A RESILIENT BIFUCATED END; (D) PIVOT MEANS MOUNTING SAID BUFICATED END OF SAID ROLLER CARRIER ON SAID CONNECTOR FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID ROLLER CARRIER, BETWEEN AN INNER, RETRACTED POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID RAIL AND AN OUTER, EXTENDED POSITION RELATIVE THERETO, ABOUT A PIVOT AXIS PERPENDICULAR TO THE PLANE OF SAID CORNER; (E) SAID PIVOT MEANS INCLUDING ALIGNED PIVOT PINS ON SAID CONNECTOR, AND THE ARMS OF SAID BIFURCATED END OF SAID ROLLER CARRIER HAVING ALIGNED RECEPTACLES RESPECTIVELY RECEVING SAID PIVOT PINS; (F) SAID PIVOT PINS HAVING BEVELED ENDS FOR SPRINGING SAID ARMS OF SAID BUFURCATED END OF SAID ROLLER CARRIER INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID PIVOT PINS UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID ROLLER CARRIER TOWARD SAID CONNECTOR; (G) A ROLLER ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID ROLLER CARRIER FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS PARALLEL TO AND SPACED FROM SAID PIVOT AXIS; (H) SAID RAIL HAVING AN OUTER EDGE PROVIDED WITH AN OPENING THROUGH WHICH SAID ROLLER PROJECTS OUTWARDLY; (I) ADJUSTABLE STOP MEANS FOR DEFINING SAID RETRACTED POSITION OF SAID ROLLER CARRIER; AND (J) SPRING MEANS FOR BIASING SAID ROLLER CARRIER TOWARD SAID EXTENDED POSITION. 